Obama: Romney not 'credible' on China crackdown

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Returning to a familiar theme on the stump, President Obama said that MItt Romney's recent attacks on China were not "credible."

Speaking to students and supporters at Bowling Green State University near Toledo, Obama compared Romney to a predator lurking around some hens.

"It feels a lot like that fox saying we need more secure chicken coops," Obama said.

The two candidates have been sparring over China's rise in manufacturing states hit hard by outsourcing — with each attempting to portray the other as hapless to stop the bleeding of U.S. factory jobs and Chinese trade practices.

"He's been talking tough on China. He says he's going to take the fight to them — he's going to go after these cheaters," Obama said. "That message is better than what he's actually done about it."

Obama pointed to Romney's investments in several Chinese companies and his opposition to a trade complain over Chinese tires.

Republicans have pointed out that the Obama administration has also touted deals between the same companies that Romney has invested in — and that the president has failed to get tough on Chinese currency manipulation.